STAFFORDSHIRE: Mark Prince and Dave Tutton, the former managing director and marketing director of Jacuzzi UK, have purchased a ceramic factory based in Newcastle Under Lyme from the Jacuzzi Group.
The company will be named Silverdale Bathrooms and will continue to be managed by the current ceramic production team based on this site, supported by the new owners.
The Silverdale site, in the heart of the Staffordshire potteries, has been manufacturing high-end ceramic bathroom pieces for almost 30 years, and will continue to manufacture the luxury BC Sanitan and Jacuzzi ceramic products marketed to bathroom specialists throughout Europe.
The BC Sanitan brand has been included in the new purchase and will be ordered and supplied in future directly from the new company.
The Jacuzzi brand will be manufactured under licence and continue to be supplied through Jacuzzi UK's offices in Bradford.
Silverdale is one of the few remaining ceramic factories producing in the UK and has retained its highly skilled craftsmen, who make some of the finest vitrified china bathroom pieces available in the world today. The product comprises a broad range of white and coloured ceramic pieces and the company has a proud history in offering an efficient local service to its retail customers.
Commenting on the buyout, Mr Prince said: "Some of the potters, who have worked at this site for many years, have a skill passed down from past generations and long may it continue while there is still a market that requires these quality British-made products."
The buyout, which has been financially supported by Skipton Business Finance and Midven, will not only safeguard 50 jobs on site but allow the Jacuzzi group to focus on their core hydrotherapy products including whirlpool baths and hot tubs, and the Silverdale team to focus on the production of quality ceramic products.
The administration functions including customer services will be based on the Silverdale Road site and the factory will continue to be managed by Jem Hyde, assisted by Charlie Snow.
